Vcenter Server 5.5 Certificate Expired Jun 2026

files in the SSL directory and update the vCenter configuration to recognize the new chain. 3. Don't Forget the Inventory Service and SSO In version 5.5, the Single Sign-On (SSO) Inventory Service

If you are still managing a legacy VMware environment running , you have likely encountered a sudden and terrifying scenario: the vSphere Client fails to connect, the Web Client shows SSL errors, and services like vMotion, cloning, and even basic authentication grind to a halt. The culprit? An expired SSL certificate.

Login attempts hang or fail even with correct credentials, often citing clock synchronization or identity provider errors. vcenter server 5.5 certificate expired

If login still fails with "Invalid or expired SSO token", the STS certificate must be replaced. This process is more complex.

For legacy 5.5 environments, abandon custom CA chains. Switch back to VMware self-signed certs (Option 4 in certificate-manager) to restore function, then plan your migration to vCenter 7.0/8.0. files in the SSL directory and update the

Expired vCenter Server 5.5 certificates require manual replacement using the VMware Certificate Automation Tool to resolve SSL errors and web client lockouts. The process involves generating new base-64 encoded certificates and updating services in a strict order, beginning with the Single Sign-On (SSO) service. You can find more information on the VMware website.

After fixing vCenter, your ESXi hosts might show as “Not responding” or “Certificate verification failed.” The culprit

Before attempting a fix, you must confirm that expiration is the root cause.

Before you start replacing files, confirm which certificate has lapsed. Web Client Check : If you can still log in, navigate to Home > Administration > Certificate Management to view expiration dates. Manual Check : For Windows-based installs, check the C:\ProgramData\VMware\VMware VirtualCenter\SSL folder. Open the